Why can't I log in?Have you registered? Seriously, you must register in order to log in. Have you been banned from the board? (A message will be displayed if you have.) If so, you should contact the webmaster or board administrator to find out why. If you have registered and are not banned and you still cannot log in then check and double-check your username and password. Usually this is the problem; if not, contact the board administrator -- they may have incorrect configuration settings for the board.

Why do I need to register at all?You may not have to -- it is up to the administrator of the board as to whether you need to register in order to post messages. However, registration will give you access to additional features not available to guest users such as definable avatar images, private messaging, emailing to fellow users, usergroup subscription, etc. It only takes a few minutes to register so it is recommended you do so.

Why do I get logged off automatically?If you do not check the Log me in automatically box when you log in, the board will only keep you logged in for a preset time. This prevents misuse of your account by anyone else. To stay logged in, check the box during login. This is not recommended if you access the board from a shared computer, e.g. library, internet cafe, university cluster, etc.

How do I prevent my username from appearing in the online user listings?In your profile you will find an option Hide your online status; if you switch this on you'll only appear to board administrators or to yourself. You will be counted as a hidden user.

I've lost my password!Don't panic! While your password cannot be retrieved it can be reset. To do this go to the login page and click I've forgotten my password. Follow the instructions and you should be back online in no time.

I registered but cannot log in!First check that you are entering the correct username and password. If they are okay then one of two things may have happened: if COPPA support is enabled and you clicked the I am under 13 years old link while registering then you will have to follow the instructions you received. If this is not the case then maybe your account need activating. Some boards will require all new registrations be activated, either by yourself or by the administrator before you can log on. When you registered it would have told you whether activation was required. If you were sent an email then follow the instructions; if you did not receive the email then check that your email address is valid. One reason activation is used is to reduce the possibility of rogue users abusing the board anonymously. If you are sure the email address you used is valid then try contacting the board administrator.

I registered in the past but cannot log in anymore!The most likely reasons for this are: you entered an incorrect username or password (check the email you were sent when you first registered) or the administrator has deleted your account for some reason. If it is the latter case then perhaps you did not post anything? It is usual for boards to periodically remove users who have not posted anything so as to reduce the size of the database. Try registering again and get involved in discussions.

User Preferences and settings

How do I change my settings?All your settings (if you are registered) are stored in the database. To alter them click the Profile link (generally shown at the top of pages but this may not be the case). This will allow you to change all your settings.

The times are not correct!The times are almost certainly correct; however, what you may be seeing are times displayed in a timezone different from the one you are in. If this is the case, you should change your profile setting for the timezone to match your particular area, e.g. London, Paris, New York, Sydney, etc. Please note that changing the timezone, like most settings, can only be done by registered users. So if you are not registered, this is a good time to do so, if you pardon the pun!

I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!If you are sure you have set the timezone correctly and the time is still different, the most likely answer is daylight savings time (or summer time as it is known in the UK and other places). The board is not designed to handle the changeovers between standard and daylight time so during summer months the time may be an hour different from the real local time.

My language is not in the list!The most likely reasons for this are either the administrator did not install your language or someone has not translated this board into your language. Try asking the board administrator if they can install the language pack you need or if it does not exist, please feel free to create a new translation. More information can be found at the phpBB Group website (see link at bottom of pages)

How do I show an image below my username?There may be two images below a username when viewing posts. The first is an image associated with your rank; generally these take the form of stars or blocks indicating how many posts you have made or your status on the forums. Below this may be a larger image known as an avatar; this is generally unique or personal to each user. It is up to the board administrator to enable avatars and they have a choice over the way in which avatars can be made available. If you are unable to use avatars then this is the decision of the board admin and you should ask them their reasons (we're sure they'll be good!)

How do I change my rank?In general you cannot directly change the wording of any rank (ranks appear below your username in topics and on your profile depending on the style used). Most boards use ranks to indicate the number of posts you have made and to identify certain users. For example, moderators and administrators may have a special rank. Please do not abuse the board by posting unnecessarily just to increase your rank -- you will probably find the moderator or administrator will simply lower your post count.

When I click the email link for a user it asks me to log in.Sorry, but only registered users can send email to people via the built-in email form (if the admin has enabled this feature). This is to prevent malicious use of the email system by anonymous users.

Posting Issues

How do I post a topic in a forum?Easy -- click the relevant button on either the forum or topic screens. You may need to register before you can post a message. The facilities available to you are listed at the bottom of the forum and topic screens (the You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc. list)

How do I edit or delete a post?Unless you are the board admin or forum moderator you can only edit or delete your own posts. You can edit a post (sometimes for only a limited time after it was made) by clicking the edit button for the relevant post. If someone has already replied to the post, you will find a small piece of text output below the post when you return to the topic that lists the number of times you edited it. This will only appear if no one has replied; it also will not appear if moderators or administrators edit the post (they should leave a message saying what they altered and why). Please note that normal users cannot delete a post once someone has replied.

How do I add a signature to my post?To add a signature to a post you must first create one; this is done via your profile. Once created you can check the Add Signature box on the posting form to add your signature. You can also add a signature by default to all your posts by checking the appropriate radio box in your profile. You can still prevent a signature being added to individual posts by un-checking the add signature box on the posting form.

How do I create a poll?Creating a poll is easy -- when you post a new topic (or edit the first post of a topic, if you have permission) you should see a Add Poll form below the main posting box. If you cannot see this then you probably do not have rights to create polls. You should enter a title for the poll and then at least two options -- to set an option type in the poll question and click the Add option button. You can also set a time limit for the poll, 0 being an infinite amount. There will be a limit to the number of options you can list, which is set by the board administrator

How do I edit or delete a poll?As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster, a moderator, or board administrator. To edit a poll, click the first post in the topic, which always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote then users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if people have already placed votes only moderators or administrators can edit or delete it; this is to prevent people rigging polls by changing options mid-way through a poll

Why can't I access a forum?Some forums may be limited to certain users or groups. To view, read, post, etc. you may need special authorization which only the forum moderator and board administrator can grant, so you should contact them.

Why can't I vote in polls?Only registered users can vote in polls so as to prevent spoofing of results. If you have registered and still cannot vote then you probably do not have appropriate access rights.

Formatting and Topic Types

What is BBCode?BBCode is a special implementation of HTML. Whether you can use BBCode is determined by the administrator. You can also disable it on a per post basis from the posting form. BBCode itself is similar in style to HTML: tags are enclosed in square braces [ and ] rather than < and > and it offers greater control over what and how something is displayed. For more information on BBCode see the guide which can be accessed from the posting page.

Can I use HTML?That depends on whether the administrator allows you to; they have complete control over it. If you are allowed to use it, you will probably find only certain tags work. This is a safety feature to prevent people from abusing the board by using tags which may destroy the layout or cause other problems. If HTML is enabled you can disable it on a per post basis from the posting form.

What are Smileys?Smileys, or Emoticons, are small graphical images which can be used to express some feeling using a short code, e.g. :) means happy, :( means sad. The full list of emoticons can be seen via the posting form. Try not to overuse smileys, though, as they can quickly render a post unreadable and a moderator may decide to edit them out or remove the post altogether.

Can I post Images?Images can indeed be shown in your posts. However, there is no facility at present for uploading images directly to this board. Therefore you must link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server, e.g. http://www.some-unknown-place.net/my-picture.gif. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC (unless it is a publicly accessible server) nor to images stored behind authentication mechanisms such as Hotmail or Yahoo mailboxes, password-protected sites, etc. To display the image use either the BBCode [img] tag or appropriate HTML (if allowed).

What are Announcements?Announcements often contain important information and you should read them as soon as possible. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted. Whether or not you can post an announcement depends on the permissions required, which are set by the administrator.

What are Sticky topics?Sticky topics appear below any announcements in viewforum and only on the first page. They are often quite important so you should read them where possible. As with announcements the board administrator determines what permissions are required to post sticky topics in each forum.

What are Locked topics?Locked topics are set this way by either the forum moderator or board administrator. You cannot reply to locked topics and any poll contained inside is automatically ended. Topics may be locked for many reasons.

User Levels and Groups

What are Administrators?Administrators are people assigned the highest level of control over the entire board. These people can control all facets of board operation which include setting permissions, banning users, creating usergroups or moderators, etc. They also have full moderator capabilities in all the forums.

What are Moderators?Moderators are individuals (or groups of individuals) whose job it is to look after the running of the forums from day to day. They have the power to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics in the forum they moderate. Generally moderators are there to prevent people going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material.

What are Usergroups?Usergroups are a way in which board administrators can group users. Each user can belong to several groups (this differs from most other boards) and each group can be assigned individual access rights. This makes it easy for administrators to set up several users as moderators of a forum, or to give them access to a private forum, etc.

How do I join a Usergroup?To join a usergroup click the usergroup link on the page header (dependent on template design) and you can then view all usergroups. Not all groups are open access -- some are closed and some may even have hidden memberships. If the board is open then you can request to join it by clicking the appropriate button. The user group moderator will need to approve your request; they may ask why you want to join the group. Please do not pester a group moderator if they turn your request down -- they will have their reasons.

How do I become a Usergroup Moderator?Usergroups are initially created by the board administrator who also assigns a board moderator. If you are interested in creating a usergroup then your first point of contact should be the administrator, so try dropping them a private message.

Private Messaging

I cannot send private messages!There are three reasons for this; you are not registered and/or not logged on, the board administrator has disabled private messaging for the entire board, or the board administrator has prevented you individually from sending messages. If it is the latter case you should try asking the administrator why.

I keep getting unwanted private messages!In the future we will be adding an ignore list to the private messaging system. For now, though, if you keep receiving unwanted private messages from someone, inform the board administrator -- they have the power to prevent a user from sending private messages at all.

I have received a spamming or abusive email from someone on this board!We are sorry to hear that. The email form feature of this board includes safeguards to try to track users who send such posts. You should email the board administrator with a full copy of the email you received and it is very important this include the headers (these list details of the user that sent the email). They can then take action.

Member Reputation

What is member reputation?Member reputation is a community ranking system for members. Members gain and lose reputation based on how they are ranked by fellow members.

What are the different types of reputation?Each member may fall into one of twelve reputation levels. All members start out with "No reputation."

Revered

Admired

Highly regarded

Well respected

Respected

Appreciated

Acknowledged

No reputation

Disregarded by some

Disregarded by many

Should be banned

Banned

How do I rate a member?To rate a member, you must view one of his or her posts. On the left side, you will see his or her reputation displayed. (Note: member reputations, like signatures, only appear once per page, for a member's first post on that page). If you have not rated the member yet, you will have the option to give a positive or a negative rating. To give the member a positive rating, click the green button. To give the member a negative rating, click the red button.

How can I change my rating of a member?If you have previously rated a member, you will see an option to 'revoke' your rating. To revoke your rating, click the small red 'X'. After you have revoked your rating, you may opt to rate the member again or leave the member unrated.

Who can rate a member?Only registered members can rate another forum member.

How do I gain a good reputation?Gaining a good reputation requires a high approval rating from your fellow members. Members who like you will most likely give you a good rating. Generally, posting useful information on the forum and interacting with fellow members politely will encourage them to give you a good rating thus increasing your reputation points.

Why would I get a bad reputation?If your fellow members do not like the way you behave in the forum, they will most likely give you a bad rating which lowers your reputation points. For example, claiming that you have a working Bessler Wheel when you don't or insulting other members on the forum will almost certainly earn you a lower reputation.

How can I recover from a bad reputation?Each member has the ability to rate you (good or bad) depending on how they feel about your participation in the forum. However, each member can change their mind and revoke a bad rating at any time. They can then change their rating to good. So there is always a second chance to redeem yourself. Similarly, a member can also revoke a good rating and change it to a bad rating, so it works both ways.

How many times can I rate a member?You can only rate a fellow member once. You have the option to change your rating at any time.

Does giving a bad rating affect my own reputation?Yes. Giving a bad rating to another member will slightly lower your own reputation. Thus, giving someone a bad rating is not "free," so you should consider your bad ratings carefully. The more bad ratings you give, the lower your own reputation will be.

Does giving a good rating improve my own reputation?No. You cannot artificially improve your own reputation by giving good ratings to other members.

How many reputation points can a member give or take away?The number of points a member can give or take away depends on his or her own reputation according to the following multiplier chart.

Reputation of rating member

Multiplier for a good rating

Multiplier for a bad rating

Revered

20

15

Admired

15

12

Highly regarded

12

9

Well respected

10

8

Respected

8

6

Appreciated

6

4

Acknowledged

5

4

No reputation

4

3

Disregarded by some

2

0

Disregarded by many

1

0

Should be banned

1

0

Banned

0

0

Each member starts out with 1000 reputation points. Periodically, the site admin will adjust the multipliers and the reputation category boundaries to even out the distribution of rated members among the various levels and to rectify any disparities in the calculation.

What other factors can affect my reputation?Since the number of reputation points a member can give or take away depends on his or her own reputation, changes to the reputations of other members who have rated you can indirectly affect your own reputation. Also, only active members' ratings will be included in the calculation of your reputation points. Members that become inactive will be removed from the member database and their ratings of fellow members will be removed as well. This could change your reputation either good or bad depending on how the deleted member had rated you. Finally, your reputation can change slightly whenever the administrator adjusts the categories to even out the distribution pattern of members among the various levels.

What are the consequences of the reputation system?Members with a high reputation rating will carry more respect and influence in the community. Members with a low reputation are likely to be ignored, disregarded, or flamed by other members. As a rule of thumb, once a member receives the reputation "This member should be banned," they will have one month to improve their rating or be automatically banned from the forum. The site admin reserves the right to use his own discretion in applying these guidelines to individual cases.

Is a bad reputation the only thing that can get a user banned?No. If you make the Administrator angry enough, or violate the terms of use agreement in any way, you may be permanently banned regardless of your reputation.

Blogs

What is a Blog?From Dictionary.com:[ blog ]nounan online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog.To see some examples, click the "Blogs" link at the top of the forum.

How do I create a blog of my own?Having a blog of your own is simple. At the top of the forum you will see a link for "Blogs." On that page you will find a link to create your own blog if you have not already done so. There are eight basic settings to select before you click "Create my Blog." You can use the default settings or make your own choices. You can always go back and change these settings later. When you're ready click "Create my blog" and that's it. You are now a blogger! See below for a detailed explanation of these and other settings.

What should my Blog settings be?Your Blog should reflect your own personal tastes and interests. Have fun and be creative when personalizing your blog. Here is an explanation of various settings available to you in your Blog CP (Control Panel):

Blog Name:

Choose a name for your blog that is 50 characters or less.

Description:

This will be your blog description. Remember this is your blog, so be creative!

Blog Accessibility:

Use this setting to specify who can view your blog.

Reply Privileges:

Use this setting to restrict who can reply to your blog.(Click here for more information concerning reply permissions.)

Replies Label:

Custom text can be entered before and after the "%s", where "%s" will generate the number of replies your blog entry has received. (ex: Read %s Comments)

Post a Reply Label:

This is the link your viewers will click to post a reply to your blog. You can customize this as well.

Number of entries on main page:

This is where you choose how many blog entries will be displayed on your main blog page.

Blog Template:

Click on the dropdown menu to see the choices and pick the style you like most.(See below for more information concerning templates.)

Custom Block:

This is where you can enter any extra information that you want to show up in a content block on your Blog's main page.

What is a template and what choices do I have?A blog template is a particular "style" that you can choose for your blog.There are currently 6 templates to choose from:

Blogger:

Infinity:

DigitalMultiplex:

OrangeBlue:

SimpleGray:

UltraBlue:

How does my Blog work?Your Blog is like a personal diary that you keep on the web, where you can share your thoughts, feelings, discoveries, and whatever else strikes your fancy with whomever you wish. Your blog will consist of Entries and Comments. Usually, Entries will be made by the blog owner and Comments will be made by the blog visitors. The blog owner chooses two levels of access; View and Reply. That means as a blog owner you can allow everyone to view your blog, but only registered users may reply. Or you can make your blog as private as you like. For the View and Reply access levels you may choose: anyone, registered members, Friends, or no one but you, the blog owner.

What are Contributors and how do I select them?If you choose, you may designate one or more Contributors to your blog. A Contributor may create and edit Entries, just like the blog owner can. In this sense the only real difference between a Contributor and the owner is that a Contributor cannot access the blog control panel. To add or remove a contributor, click on "Contributors" in your Blog Control Panel.

What are Friends and how do I select them?By selecting Friends, you can easily create a group of members whom you trust and respect. You can then give this group special access and reply privileges on your blog. To add or remove a Friend, click the "Friends" on your Blog's main page. You can add or remove Friends individually or based on usergroup. Once you have selected Friends, this page will also show the last entry made in each of your Friend's blogs. You no longer need to go from blog to blog to keep up to date...just look at your "Friends" page. This page will also show who you are a friend of, or who has designated you as a Friend.

What are Blocked Users?To block specific members from accessing your blog, go to your blog and click \Blocked Users". There you can block or unblock members individually, or based on usergroup. A blocked member can not view your blog at all.

How do I limit who can VIEW my blog?In your Blog CP (Control Panel) you will see an option for "Blog Accessibility". You have the following choices:

Guests

If you choose this option, ANYONE including non-registered users, can view your blog.

Registered Users

If you choose this option, then one MUST be a registered member of the board to view your blog.

Friends Only

If you choose this option, then ONLY your Friends can view your blog.

Weblog Owner (You)

If you choose this option, then you are the ONLY person who can view your blog.

You can also change these levels on a per entry basis. Below the posting area you will find a dropdown menu. Select the access level you want and the settings will be changed for that entry only.

How do I limit who can REPLY to my blog?In your Blog CP (Control Panel) you will see an option for "Reply Privileges".
You have the following choices.

Registered Users

If you choose this option, then one MUST be a registered member of the board to reply to your blog.

Friends Only

If you choose this option, then ONLY your Friends can reply to your blog.

Weblog Owner (You)

If you choose this option, then you are the ONLY person who can reply to your blog.

What is the calendar for?The calendar is a handy way to navigate your blog and search for entries by date.
When you make a blog entry, the calendar will archive and highlight that day so all you have to do is click on it to view the entry and replies.
Click on the Previous/Forward arrows to switch the year or month.
Use the dropdown menu to select a specific date

I dont like a reply made to my blog. How can I edit/remove it?As the Blog owner you hvae complete editorial control of your Blog. You can always edit or delete entries and replies as you see fit.

I dont want my blog anymore, can I delete it?If you decide you no longer want your blog you can mark if for deletion. To do this, go into your Blog CP, scroll to the bottom, and click on "Mark for Deletion." Your blog will not be permanently deleted until the administrator purges it from the system. If you change your mind and want to restore your blog you should contact the administrator immediately.

What is a "Memorable Entry?"A memorable entry is very similar to a sticky thread (E.g. Note or Announcement). When viewing all of your blog entries, memorable entries will be pinned to the top.

How do I post an image on my blog?First click "Browse" to select an image from your PC. Please heed the image size requirements when selecting your image. Once you've selected the image, click "Upload Image." If the upload was successful, bbcode will be generated and displayed for you. Just copy and paste the bbcode into your post and the image should be displayed properly.

phpBB 2 Issues

Who wrote this bulletin board?This software (in its unmodified form) is produced, released and is copyrighted phpBB Group. It is made available under the GNU General Public License and may be freely distributed; see link for more details

Why isn't X feature available?This software was written by and licensed through phpBB Group. If you believe a feature needs to be added then please visit the phpbb.com website and see what the phpBB Group has to say. Please do not post feature requests to the board at phpbb.com, as the Group uses sourceforge to handle tasking of new features. Please read through the forums and see what, if any, our position may already be for features and then follow the procedure given there.

Whom do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this board?You should contact the administrator of this board. If you cannot find who that is, you should first contact one of the forum moderators and ask them who you should in turn contact. If still get no response you should contact the owner of the domain (do a whois lookup) or, if this is running on a free service (e.g. yahoo, free.fr, f2s.com, etc.), the management or abuse department of that service. Please note that phpBB Group has absolutely no control and cannot in any way be held liable over how, where or by whom this board is used. It is absolutely pointless contacting phpBB Group in relation to any legal (cease and desist, liable, defamatory comment, etc.) matter not directly related to the phpbb.com website or the discrete software of phpBB itself. If you do email phpBB Group about any third party use of this software then you should expect a terse response or no response at all.

Attachments

How do I add an attachment?You can add attachments when you post a new post. You should see a Add an Attachment form below the main posting box. When you click the Browse... button the standard Open dialogue window for your computer will open. Browse to the file you want to attach, select it and click OK, Open or doubleclick according to your liking and/or the correct procedure for your computer. If you choose to add a comment in the File Comment field this comment will be used as a link to the attached file. If you haven't added a comment the filename itself will be used to link to the attachment. If the board administrator has allowed it you will be able to upload multiple attachements by following the same procedure as described above until you reach the max allowed number of attachments for each post.

The board administrator sets an upper limit for filesize, defined file extensions and other things for attachments on the board. Be aware that it's your responsiblity that your attachments comply with the boards acceptance of use policy, and that they may be deleted without warning.

Please note that the boards owner, webmaster, administrator or moderators can not and will not take responsibility for any loss of data.

How do I add an attachment after the initial posting?To add an attachment after the initial posting you'll need to edit your post and follow the description above. The new attachment will be added when you click Submit to add the edited post.

How do I delete an attachment?To delete attachments you'll need to edit your post and click on the Delete Attachment next to the attachment you want to delete in the Posted Attachments box. The attachment will be deleted when you click Submit to add the edited post.

How do I update a file comment?To update a file comment you'll need to edit your post, edit the text in the File Comment field and click on the Update Comment button next to the file comment you want to update in the Posted Attachments box. The file comment will be updated when you click Submit to add the edited post.

Why isn't my attachment visible in the post?Most probably the file or Extension is no longer allowed on the forum, or a moderator or administrator has deleted it for being in conflict with the boards acceptance of use policy.

Why can't I add attachments?On some forums adding attachments may be limited to certain users or groups. To add attachments you may need special authorisation, only the forum moderator and board admin can grant this access, you should contact them.

I've got the necessary permissions, why can't I add attachments?The board administrator sets an upper limit for filesize, file extensions and other things for attachments on the board. A moderator or administrator may have altered your permissions, or discontinued attachments in the specific forum. You should get an explanation in the error message when trying to add an attachment, if not you might consider contacting the moderator or administrator.

Why can't I delete attachments?On some forums deleting attachments may be limited to certain users or groups. To delete attachments you may need special authorisation, only the forum moderator and board admin can grant this access, you should contact them.

Why can't I view/download attachments?On some viewing/downloading forums attachments may be limited to certain users or groups. To view/download attachments you may need special authorisation, only the forum moderator and board admin can grant this access, you should contact them.

Who do I contact about illegal or possibly illegal attachments?You should contact the administrator of this board. If you cannot find who this is you should first contact one of the forum moderators and ask them who you should in turn contact. If you still get no response you should contact the owner of the domain (do a whois lookup) or, if this is running on a free service (e.g. yahoo, free.fr, f2s.com, etc.), the management or abuse department of that service. Please note that phpBB Group has absolutely no control and cannot in any way be held liable over how, where or by whom this board is used. It is absolutely pointless contacting phpBB Group in relation to any legal (cease and desist, liable, defamatory comment, etc.) matter not directly related to the phpbb.com website or the discrete software of phpBB itself. If you do email phpBB Group about any third party use of this software then you should expect a terse response or no response at all.